Rack system for a dishwashing machine

ABSTRACT

A dish supporting rack includes a series of parallel rows of spaced pins, some of which are rotatably supported for movement between upright dish supporting positions and collapsed positions adjacent the bottom of the rack. The rack also includes means for positively retaining each outer row of rotatable pins at a plurality of intermediate inclined positions where the pins are effective to press against lightweight articles and to hold the articles in fixed relation within the rack while cleaning liquid is being recirculated over and into the articles.

United States Patent Fiocca et al. 5] Aug. 14, 1973 [5 RACK SYSTEM FOR A DISHWASHING 3,269,548 8/1966 Geiger et al. 211/41 MACHINE 3,612,285 10/1971 Mason 211/41 Inventors: John A. Fiocca, Akron:

Ernst Grunewald, Troy, both of Ohio Assignee: The Hobart Manufacturing Co.,

Troy, Ohio Filed: July 8, 1971 Appl. No.: 160,869

us. a. 211/41 1m. 0 A47g 19/08 Field olSearch 211/41, 71, 74, 181,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Brown 211/51 X Primary Examiner-Ramon S. Britts Attorney-Marechal, Biebel, French & Bugg 5 7 ABSTRACT A dish supporting rack includes a series of parallel rows of spaced pins, some of which are rotatably supported for movement between upright dish supporting positions and collapsed positions adjacent the bottom of the rack. The rack also includes means for positively retaining each outer row of rotatable pins at a plurality of intermediate inclined positions where the pins are effective to press against lightweight articles and to hold the articles in fixed relation within the rack while cleaning liquid is being recirculated over and into the articles.

7 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 14, 1973 3,752,322

l/V VE N TOR S .1 26 JOHN A.FIOCCA 8; 49 i' 48 ERNST GRUNEWALD BY L WMM ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a dishwashing machine rack as disclosed in US. Geiger et al Pat. No. 3,269,548 which issued to the assignee of the present invention, a plurality of rows of parallel spaced pins, including at least one retractable row of pins, support the tableware and food preparation articles while successive charges of detergent solution and fresh water are recirculated over the articles during the machine cycle. The articles may include lightweight plastic dishes, cups or other lightweight fragile articles such as fine crystal glasses, which may be bounced or shifted around within the rack by the impact of the recirculating solution or water, with resultant chipping or cracking.

Sometimes plastic cup-like articles flip over to rightside up positions and then retain water which increases the weight of the articles and prevents them from inverting again to dump the water. The trapped water within the articles prevents the inside of the articles from being properly cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an improved dish-washing machine rack system such as shown in the above Geiger et al patent, and which particularly provides for positively retaining lightweight articles such as molded plastic cups and fine crystal glassware or stemware and for positively retaining the articles in preselected positions during the washing cycle. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rack of the invention, includes generally parallel spaced longitudinal support members extending from front to back of the dishwashing machine chamber and which are connected to generally parallel spaced lateral support members extending across the chamber to form an open mesh rack bottom. The end portions of the support members are formed upwardly and are connected by additional support members to form a generally rectangular open mesh frame which extends around the bottom of the rack.

The rack further includes a series of laterally spaced rows of longitudinally spaced pins which define spaces or cavities for receiving soiled dishes or other articles. The outer two rows of pins on each side of the rack, are rotatably supported for selective movement between generally upright positions and collapsed positions adjacent the bottom of the rack in a manner as shown in the above Geiger et al patent.

In accordance with the present invention, the rack system further includes means for positioning the outer row of pins on each side of the rack at a plurality of intermediate positions where the pins are effective to press against the lightweight articles and thereby hold the articles in fixed space relation on the bottom of the rack. As a result, when cleaning solution or fresh rinse water is being recirculated within the dishwashing chamber, the lightweight articles are prevented from shifting or bouncing within the rack in response to impingement by the recirculating water streams or jets. The articles are thereby prevented from being chipped by impacting other articles or from being inverted to positions where the articles collect recirculating water.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawing and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a front loading type dishwashing machine with a portion broken away and incorporating an upper rack constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper rack shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating an outer row of support pins in fixed position for retaining fine crystal glassware in prearranged spaced relation;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end view of the upper rack shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top view of the upper rack portion shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a front loading dishwashing machine includes a tank 10 defining a cleaning chamber 12 having a front opening. A door 14 is pivotally mounted on the tank 10 at the bottom of the front opening and is movable on an axis 15 from a vertical closed position to a horizontal open position as illustrated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1. A lower rack 16 is supported within the chamber 12 by suitable tracks (not shown) and is adapted to be rolled out onto the door 14 in its open position for loading and unloading the rack.

An upper rack 20 is supported within the upper portion of the chamber 12 preferably by a pair of parallel telescopic tracks 22 as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,472,573 which also issued to the assignee of the present invention. In a conventional manner, the upper rack 20 is movable between a retracted position within the chamber 12 as shown by the full line in FIG. 1 and a fully extended position as shown by the dotted lines, overlying the door 14 in its open position.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the upper rack 20 includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced laterally extending wire support members 24 which are secured to a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending wire support members 26 to form an open mesh bottom. The center portions of the laterally extending wire members 24 (FIG. 3) are formed upwardly to provide for positioning a large diameter serving plate P (FIG. 1) or other large article within the center portion of the lower rack 16. The end portions of the laterally extending wire support members 24 are formed upwardly and are rigidly connected by a series of side wire support members 28. The end portions of the longitudinally extending wire support members 26 are also formed upwardly and are rigidly connected by a top wire support member 31 and an inclined wire support member 32. The corresponding end portions of the wire members 31 and 32 are rigidly secured to the adjacent laterally extending wire support member 24.

In addition to the longitudinally extending wire support members 26, each side portion of the upper rack 20, includes a set of collapsible wire support members 34 and 36 which are constructed somewhat similar to the collapsible support members shown in the above US. Pat. No. 3,269,548. Each of the support members 34 and 36 includes a longitudinally extending wire member 37 which supports a series of longitudinally spaced wire pins 38 each having a slight Z-shaped or offset configuration. In addition, the support member 36 includes a pair of spaced longitudinal wire members 39 which rigidly connect the corresponding pins 38 above the wire member 37 to provide reinforcement of the pins 38. As shown in FIG. 3, the two centermost longitudinally extending support wire members 26 each support a series or row of longitudinally spaced upright pins 40 having substantially the same spacing as the pins 38 on the support wires 37.

Each of the longitudinally extending support members 34 and 36 is rotatably supported by a set of end brackets or fittings 41 (FIG. 3) which are molded from a thermoplastic material and are snap fitted on the end wire members 24 and 26. The forward end portion of each rotatable wire member 37 is bent upwardly to form a lever 43 which is located adjacent the forward wall of the rack 20.

A curved or arcuate shaped retaining member 45 is positioned on each side portion of the front wall of the upper rack 20 and is secured by clips 46 to a vertical wire support member 47 which is rigidly attached to the front wire support members 31 and 32. The retaining member 45 is molded from a thermoplastic material and also includes integral clips 48 and 49 which snap fit onto the front laterally extending wire support member 24 and the upwardly projecting forward end portion of the adjacent longitudinally extending wire support member 26. Each retaining member 45 includes a finger portion 51 which has a pair of parallel spaced and inwardly projecting ribs 52 defining a nest or socket for the upwardly projecting end portion or lever 43 of the rotatable support member 34.

The retaining member 45 also includes a plurality of angularly arranged sets of parallel spaced ribs. 54 which define a series of nests or sockets for receiving the upwardly projecting forward end portion or lever 43 of the rotatable support member 36. That is, the series of angularly arranged sockets defined by the ribs 54, provide for positioning the support member 36 and including upwardly projecting pins 38, at a plurality of different angular positions intermediate the upright position shown in FIG. 3 and a collapsed position where the pins 38 lie on the bottom wire members 26 of the rack 20. It is to be understood that all of the wire support members forming the rack 20, are coated in a conventional manner with a resilient rubber-like protective coating, commonly referred to as Plastisol. I

To illustrate a typical use of the support member 34 and the retaining member 45, a pair of lightweight fine crystal glasses G are positioned within the upper rack 20 so that the glasses rest against the side wire members 28. The support member 36 and the corresponding upright pins 38 are rotated or pivoted downwardly until the pins 38 firmly engage the outer surface of the glasses G. The support member 36 is positioned simply by springing the corresponding lever 43 from one of the sockets defined between a set of ribs 54, rotating the support member 36 until the pins 38 engage the glasses and then releasing the lever 43 so that it snaps back into an adjacent socket of the retaining member 45.

Preferably, a slight torque is introduced within the wire member 37 after the corresponding pins contact the glasses G, by pressing downwardly on the lever 43 before the lever is released into the adjacent sockets within the retaining member 45. As a result, a firm pressure is exerted on the glasses G by the corresponding pins 38 so that the glasses are positively retained in a fixed spaced relation during the entire wash cycle of the dishwashing machine.

When it is desired to move the support member 34 and the corresponding pins 38 from their upright positions shown in FIG. 3, to their collapsed positions adjacent the bottom members 26 of the rack 20, the lever 43 of the support member 34, is pulled from the socket defined by the ribs 52 and is rotated counterclockwise (FIG. 3) until the pins 38 contact the wire members 26. The support member 36 and the corresponding pins 38, may also be collapsed in the same manner when it is desired to place a large bowl or other large article within the upper rack as illustrated in FIG. 2 of the above US. Pat. No. 3,269,548.

From the drawing and the above description, it is apparent that a dishwashing machine incorporating a rack constructed in accordance with the present invention, provides desirable features and advantages. For example, the retaining member 45 cooperates with the lever 43 of the support member 36 to provide for conveniently and positively retaining lightweight articles in preselected fixed spaced relation within the upper rack of the dishwashing machine. Thus articles such as light weight fine crystal glasses or stemware and lightweight plastic cups, may be placed within the outer side portions of the upper rack 20 and retained in fixed positions or relation simply by pivoting the outer row of pins 38 downwardly into pressure engagement with the articles and then holding the pressure engagement by snapping the lever 43 of the support member 36 into one of the sockets within the retaining member 45.

As mentioned above, it has been found that this holddown feature is highly desirable in that it prevents lightweight plastic cups from tumbling and collecting water and also prevents fine crystal glasses from bouncing against each other or other articles within the rack during the washing and rinsing periods. It is also to be understood that while the article holddown structure has been described herein in connection with the upper rack of an automatic dishwashing machine, the structure may also be used within a lower rack of the machine.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A rack for a dishwashing machine having a tank defining a chamber in which cleansing liquid is propelled forcefully against articles supported in the rack, said rack having a generally open construction formed by a plurality of spaced longitudinal support members extending from front to back of said chamber and connected to a series of spaced lateral support members extending across said chamber, a plurality of upright pins secured to at least several of said support members for receiving soiled articles to be cleaned, and means for rotatably supporting at least one of said support members having a row of said pins thereon to provide for moving said pins toward and away from the bottom of the rack; the improvement comprising means for retaining said rotatably supported pins in at least one intermediate position extending at an angle to said bottom and partially surrounding and holding articles against the bottom of said rack to retain the articles in fixed relation while cleansing liquid is propelled against such articles.

2. A rack as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprise a member mounted on said rack and having means defining a plurality of angularly related detent sockets, and said rotatable support member includes an arm adapted to be selectively located within one of said sockets.

3. A rack as defined in claim 2 wherein said retaining member includes an arcuately shaped portion, and said detent sockets being arranged on said arcuately shaped portion.

4. A rack as defined in claim 2 wherein said retaining member comprises a molded plastic body having a series of integral ribs thereon forming said detent sockets.

5. A rack as defined in claim 1 including a longitudinally extending support member rigidly connecting said pins on said rotatable support member to effect reinforcement of said pins for firmly engaging the articles.

6. A rack as defined in claim 2, wherein said arm is torsionally connected to said one support member whereby said rotatably supported pins can be forcibly engaged with the articles as said arm is moved into one of said sockets.

7. In a rack for a dishwashing machine having a tank defining a chamber in which cleansing liquid is recirculated, and including an open mesh bottom formed by a plurality of generally parallel spaced longitudinal support members extending from front to back of said chamber and connected to a series of generally parallel spaced lateral support members extending across said chamber, a series of generally parallel spaced upright pins secured to a plurality of said support members for receiving soiled articles to be cleaned, and means for rotatably supporting at least one of said parallel support members having a row of said pins thereon to provide for moving said pins between a collapsed position adjacent the bottom of the rack and said generally upright position, the improvement comprising means for retaining said rotatably supported pins in a plurality of angularly related intermediate positions between said upright and collapsed positions for firmly engaging lightweight articles resting on the bottom of said rack to hold the articles in fixed relation while the cleansing liquid is being recirculated.

* 4 i t t 

1. A rack for a dishwashing machine having a tank defining a chamber in which cleansing liquid is propelled forcefully against articles supported in the rack, said rack having a generally open construction formed by a plurality of spaced longitudinal support members extending from front to back of said chamber and connected to a series of spaced lateral support members extending across said chamber, a plurality of upright pins secured to at least several of said support members for receiving soiled articles to be cleaned, and means for rotatably supporting at least one of said support members having a row of said pins thereon to provide for moving said pins toward and away from the bottom of the rack; the improvement comprising means for retaining said rotatably supported pins in at least one intermediate position extending at an angle to said bottom and partially surrounding and holding articles against the bottom of said rack to retain the articles in fixed relation while cleansing liquid is propelled against such articles.
 2. A rack as defined in claim 1 wherein said retaining means comprise a member mounted on said rack and having means defining a plurality of angularly related detent sockets, and said rotatable support member includes an arm adapted to be selectively located within one of said sockets.
 3. A rack as defined in claim 2 wherein said retaining member includes an arcuately shaped portion, and said detent sockets being arranged on said arcuately shaped portion.
 4. A rack as defined in claim 2 wherein said retaining member comprises a molded plastic body having a series of integral ribs thereon forming said detent sockets.
 5. A rack as defined in claim 1 including a longitudinally extending support member rigidly connecting said pins on said rotatable support member to effect reinforcement of said pins for firmly engaging the articles.
 6. A rack as defined in claim 2, wherein said arm is torsionally connected to said one support member whereby said rotatably supported pins can be forcibly engaged with the articles as said arm is moved into one of said sockets.
 7. In a rack for a dishwashing machine having a tank defining a chamber in which cleansing liquid is recirculated, and including an open mesh bottom formed by a plurality Of generally parallel spaced longitudinal support members extending from front to back of said chamber and connected to a series of generally parallel spaced lateral support members extending across said chamber, a series of generally parallel spaced upright pins secured to a plurality of said support members for receiving soiled articles to be cleaned, and means for rotatably supporting at least one of said parallel support members having a row of said pins thereon to provide for moving said pins between a collapsed position adjacent the bottom of the rack and said generally upright position, the improvement comprising means for retaining said rotatably supported pins in a plurality of angularly related intermediate positions between said upright and collapsed positions for firmly engaging lightweight articles resting on the bottom of said rack to hold the articles in fixed relation while the cleansing liquid is being recirculated. 